Burned In Shadows

by Eden, Tigris

  Black stepped back and sat in his chair. Melissa’s eyes shot wide. She hadn’t expected that answer. Zea caught the alarm in her eyes. She was scared.

  Good.

  Melissa jumped off the stage, and within seconds the force of her body was on top of Zea. She pushed out and arched up trying to throw the other woman off, but when she couldn’t get her weight distributed to gain the upper hand, she rolled to the side taking Melissa with her. She hooked her leg around the other woman’s waist and hoisted herself on top. Her fist came swung out, claws bared and trying to take the other woman down. As her arm extended Melissa pulled her legs up and under Zea pushing her back onto the unforgiving ground. Her back hit hard forcing air to escape out in a strangled sound. Melissa had her in a leg hold, and it took her a second to remember what Ronin had taught her in ground tactics to maneuver her way out. She relaxed her shoulders and quickly pushed forward, breaking the hold.

  Zea scrambled away from the other woman and stood quickly.

  “You’re gonna pay for that.”

  They were dancing around now as they began circling each other. Melissa was at least a foot taller, which was the thing with immortals, most of them didn’t come in normal size. They came in tall or ginormous. Never let it be said they did anything half ass either. The other woman was also about fifty pounds heavier, give or take a breast. Zea bent low the way Ronin taught her. Melissa lunged, and she had to jump out of the way, tagging her hard as she passed, causing the other woman to stumble.

  Black tossed Melissa a blade and Zea glared at him. She was going to light his ass up the moment this was over.

  “You’re a real asshole you know that?” She said over her shoulder as she swayed left and then right to miss the swipe of Melissa’s blade. What seriously pissed her off is in the corner of her peripheral she could see him nod in answer to her statement. She gave him the bird as she moved out of the way of the blade wielding woman who was now foaming at the mouth. The action cost her when her arm was coming back to block her face when she was nicked by the down swipe of the blade. The pain from the blade only pissed her off more. Her emotions were threatening to override her thoughts, and she couldn’t let that happen. Follow through, lead with your left and then attack with your right. Ronin’s words came through loud and clear. Zea stepped forward with her left and then with her right leg she kicked the blade out of Melissa’s hands. Before the other woman gained momentum she rushed forward taking them both down to the ground. She braced for the pain, but it never came. Her ears were ringing from all the adrenaline that was coursing through her system and the sound of her heart crashing against her rib cage served as a countdown to the end. Melissa pushed her off and stood quickly backing away from her so she couldn’t reach out with her limbs to tag her.

  “I thought werewolves were stronger.” She taunted as she delivered a kick to Melissa’s gut. She could move faster now, she felt stronger. Someone from the crowd was giving her the energy she needed for her second wind. She didn’t remember touching anyone, but she wasn’t going to complain. The kick caused Melissa to double over, and Zea used her hand and punched her in the jaw, knocking her to the ground. She stayed down holding her gut. Zea knew there was no way the other woman was going to give in so easily. Melissa started to convulse, and Zea had to take a step back. Things had gone from bad to worse, to fucked up in half a second. Melissa had shifted into her werewolf form.

  “You’re going to die a slow death, bitch.” Melissa said around a mouth of fangs.

  She wasn’t expecting the change, she’d hoped the woman would fight her in her human form, but that just wasn’t going to happen. Melissa’s claws raked across her stomach taking the flesh from her bones. The pain was almost unbearable, and she tried to breathe through it. In through her mouth, out through her nose.

  Melissa caught her again in the face, blood warming her sweat soaked face. Great, just fucking swell! Zea thought to herself. Melissa struck again, and this time Zea caught her by the wrist and twisted hard, pulling forward she caused the other woman to bend. Lightning quick she used the trick Royce said would only look cool if she did it and turned jerking her arm forward and with the help of her legs climbed the massive wolf and attached her legs around her neck. They both came crashing down hard, but Zea still had her arm. One move and she could break it.

  “Do you yield?”

  “Fuck…. You.” Melissa said breathing hard.

  “No, fuck you.” She pulled and heard the bones snap.

  “I think we’ve seen quite enough.” Enri said somewhere up on the stage. She looked up and saw him slowly walking towards them as she kept a hold on Melissa’s arm. Damn, she didn’t want the fight to end, there was a lot more ass whooping she still needed to hand down. This woman had slept with her man, tried to mar him with her filth and evil. How had none one noticed before? Someone had to have noticed. Royce could read minds why didn’t he alert any of the other members of just how rancid this woman was.

  “That’s enough girls,” Enri clapped to get their attention.

  Zea was slowly releasing her when Melissa broke free and turned straddling her chest. She wasn’t in full were form now, but her claws still dug into her arm, breaking the skin and touching bone. The pain was poignant, something she wasn’t sure she could even handle. Zea looked up and noticed that Melissa was changing into full were form.

  It looked down snout to face. It growled and drooled, the snot from its nostrils landing on her cheek as the animal sunk its claws further into her flesh. A scream left her as she tried to get away. She didn’t have much room and knew she wasn’t supposed to be struggling. Her mind was scrambling for a way to get out of the hold, but the pain was too much. She couldn’t shift into anything else because it her body was slowly shutting down. She tried grabbing a fist full of its fur and with all her strength tried pulling the animal off of her, but it wouldn’t budge. Then she tried using her own fangs, sinking into her skin. The wolf bit back turning its head and taking Zea from Shoulder to neck. There was a feeling of being lifted off her feet and shaken so hard black spots where forming in front of her eyes. She couldn’t focus and she knew the wolf was treating her like a rag dog. Seconds spanned into minutes and each minute it became harder for her to maintain her form. Blackness was fast approaching as she lost heavy amounts of blood. The pain was dulling. Her body was done, exhausted her limits.

  “STOP!”

  Who was speaking? She couldn’t tell, her vision was blurry, and her mouth was filled with the coppery taste of her own blood. Damn. She thought she was really going to beat a bitch down.

  Chapter 26

  Motherfuckers had some explaining to do. It had been almost two days, and Belinda had not risen. They’d searched the place from top to bottom. Nothing. They couldn’t find her. They were on their way to speak to the Matria when Dietrich Johnson passed them in the hallway. Well, he tried to pass them but Royce’s hand shot out grabbing the male by the throat and pinning him against a wall. There were days when Ronin loved his brother. Today was one of those days.

  “What the fuck?”

  “Royce, remove your hand from my persons. Or I’ll fuck your shit up. Brain eating brother or not I’ll end you.”

  Ronin grunted. He wasn’t going to let D get one off on his brother.

  “Why are you here?”

  Dietrich growled and flashed pearly white teeth. Royce reluctantly let him go. It wasn’t because he couldn’t take the other male. It was simply the only way of getting the information they needed.

  “I fucking don’t know. The Matria called me here. I’m here.”

  Not too many people could get this man to do a dog and pony show. He barely listened to Dravaggio. Unless… Shit, shit, shit. This is who the Matria was referring to.

  “Who called you?” Royce’s voice was quiet, strained. His brother knew what was happening, but like him, he was shocked.

  “You’re Belinda’s fiancé.” It wasn’t a
question.

  D had the audacity to look surprised. Eyes covered in dark shades, but his eyebrows flew up high.

  “Fuck, follow me, I’ll take you to her.”

  Ronin had to give the guy credit. He was incredibly normal about their situation. He, on the other hand, was seething. Trying to maintain a semblance of calm. What he should be doing is trying to figure a way out of this mess. Just days ago he was ready to hand her over to his brother. Now, he wanted her for himself. Wanted to protect her and make sure she was safe, no matter what.

  “I’m not her fiancé. Not anymore.” D said by way of conversation. Royce swore loudly, and he tried hard not to let rage over take him.

  “Is that why you were hanging out in her room? Royce asked. “Because you’re not her fiancé?

  “I’m curious Royce while you were fucking the chick next door, did you care?”

  “Of course I cared.”

  “Assholes, the both of you.”

  Dietrich led them down a hall that stopped at a set of stairs. Those stairs weren’t there before. He’d searched this place thoroughly from top to bottom. As they walked up, light began to seep through cracks in the wall. It was hard to tell what time of day it was when they had no windows in their room. The Enclave itself was closed off from everything. A guard was posted at the top of the stairs. When he opened the door, they were outside. Ice capped mountains surrounding them on all sides.

  “How Harry Potter of you. Can we walk through pillars at the train station as well?”

  “Shut up Royce.”

  “Ro, you gotta admit its fancy smancy.” He knew his brother was on edge, the more he joked the more it was to control his anger. Sarcasm was his only way of coping. Dietrich looked over his shoulders and smirked. He had a way of treating them both as if they were adolescent children. As they walked down a path, he noticed there were shops along the base of the mountain. Bakeries and pubs, even a grocery store and what looked to be a school. There was even what looked like a mini-strip mall. Nestled on the side of the mountains were actual homes.

  “How the hell do we get up there?” His brother wondered out loud.

  “You don’t. Unless escorted. Belinda is in the center of town on display. Follow me.”

  On display? Why would she need to be put on display? Ronin walked quietly behind them taking in all the scenery. There were no escape routes that he could see, unless of course, you flew out. He wasn’t going to let his guard down.

  “The Enclave is inter-dimensional, humans can’t see it, but they sense it. Which is why they all stay out of Fifth ward.”

  People were staring as they walked through the town. They passed what looked like a school building. Children stared out the window, some pointing, and other’s eyes round like quarters as they watched. When they reached the center of the town, they saw her. Belinda was laid out on what looked like an uncomfortable altar. Large pink and white lilies surrounded her and a curtain of honeysuckles covered her body like a blanket.

  “Reminds me of sleeping beauty.” Royce said as they stood around her body. “Who’s gonna kiss her first?”

  “Neither of you dipshits. Only her chosen can awake her.” D told him as he crossed his arms over his chest.

  “And that would be you asshole?”

  “It wasn’t my choice.”

  “Tell me again why I’m not beating the shit out of you walker? Ronin closed his hands into fists to keep from reaching out and putting the guy in a choke hold.

  He wanted to touch her. Needed to. She’d come to mean a lot more than he ever thought possible. Great, now he was a sensitive man.

  “Look, I walked away from her.” Dietrich said on a frustrated sigh.

  Two pairs of eyes turned to look at him.

  “What do you mean, walked away? You never had a shot with her.”

  Ronin informed him.

  “I did, the broad was crazy about me. We did everything together.”

  “Define everything together.”

  “Do I need to spell it out for you frat boy?”

  “Who’s a frat boy?”

  “Alright G.Q. Smooth, what the fuck are you then?” Dietrich posed the question to his brother. They were always arguing over something. Royce went on to explain to D how he was a man, a real male of worth. D of course laughed in his face. He tried to ignore them both. He was worried about the situation. Belinda hadn’t verbally given herself to anyone. She hadn’t acted like a female who was taken. What Surelle had said must have been true. Even if it were true if the other man so much as touched her, he would lose his life.

  “I second that Ro.” Royce said. They were both on board with killing Dietrich if he so much as breathed on her wrong.

  Dietrich eyed them both and grunted. Ronin couldn’t see his eyes, but he knew they were focused on him and his brother. D was a maniacal bastard and even if he didn’t want Belinda, he’d fight them just because he could. That was fine, he could be the same way. The other man would have to understand that for every action that was an equal and deadly reaction when coming from his corner.

  # # #

  Knives were stabbing her body, hundreds of tiny knives. They dug into her cheek and tore open her thighs. It was entirely too much pain radiating over her body. She tried to open her eyes, but it was like pouring alcohol into an open wound. Had someone stitched her eyes shut? Of all the days to wake and still be in the dark this sucked ass the most. Jes tried to move her hands, but they were tied. She tried to struggle but couldn’t. Every moment was a constant reminder of how much agony she was in.

  She tested her voice to demand where she was, but only a crack of sound escaped. She tried to swallow, and the dryness of her throat seemed to open up wounds that were embedded beneath the skin. She was in a bad place and she was on the verge of having an episode. As her mind tried to understand what had happened to her and why she found herself in this predicament, she realized two things. She was no longer Zea, and she’d showed her true form out in the open to all of her enemies. She remembered the fight, and hearing Draven’s voice strong and unwavering as he’d called a stop to the ass whipping that Melissa had delivered.

  She was in hell.

  Only hell could be so cruel to shackle her broken body to a chair. She was trying her hardest not to freak out. Ann, her shrink would see this as an enormous step back in the progress she’d already made. Jes tried to suck in air, but her ribs were broken. The knowledge only made her body ache more as she tried to calm her breathing. Which in turn only sped her breathing up, causing more unwanted pain.

  “Who are you?” She couldn’t open her eyes to see the voice, but she knew it well. It was his voice. Strong and pissed the fuck off. She wanted to crack a smile, truly she did, but if she had her dry lips would have cracked spilling more of her blood.

  “Answer me woman!” Draven roared into the darkness.

  She tested her voice again, and a sound squeaked past.

  “What?”

  “Water.” She, could actually hear her voice this time, although it was muffled to her own ears. It still hurt to speak, but at least she could communicate. Somewhat.

  “You’ll get no water. Speak.” So he wanted to play torturer and torturee. Fine. She could play. Her muscles cracked at the joints, and the slightest movement caused pain. Her back shoulder blade itched like a motherfucker. She willed it to stop itching but the more she thought about it the more it itched.

  “Fuck!” Oh, her voice at least sounded stronger on that last word.

  “You’re not my type.” He shot back.

  Liar. Jes thought, she was more than his type. She was it for him.

  “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” She taunted back. They were bantering back and forth like children. At least it was a somewhat civil conversation, and it pained her to talk. He growled, and his breath burst out of his chest in a huff. She still couldn’t open her eyes, but she could hear the tell-tale signs of bo
nes cracking. There was gargling and even a pained moan. Then there was moisture on her face from Draven’s breath. He’d shifted, whether it was to scare her or to show her, she wasn’t sure, but he’d shifted.

  “I know you. I know you as my mate,” the wolf said on a growl. Even though she couldn’t see him, she knew he was between shifts, half man, half beast. His hot, moist breath caressing her face.

  Finally, her Draven had appeared.

  Chapter 27

  This was why he acted the way he did. If he didn’t look at life through funny glasses he’d be seeing through the “real life is shit” goggles. What else could he do? Royce wanted to strangle someone. No, he wanted to rip someone apart, piece by piece and stomp on their entrails. Take all their intestines and wrap it around someone’s fence like Christmas decorations.

  “You’re one sick fuck.” His brother stated out loud.

  “Says the guy that eats brains for dinner.”

  So his brother bit into someone’s frontal lobe before, no biggie.

  He let out a calm breath. He didn’t want his inner monologue to get the best of him. Who needs a conscience?

  “Dude, I swear to the fucking Gods of old, new, and now, you kiss my girl, so much as lay a hand on her sleeping beauty stone slab, I’ll fuck you up.”

  Royce was dead serious.

  D flipped him the bird. The hand gesture said a lot, and he knew the other man always had something smart to say. That he didn’t, meant at least he was listening now. Fool had some sense after all.

  “If I wanted her, I could have her. The only reason I even permitted you an audience is in hopes she’d wake the fuck up. Belinda is like a sister to me. I don’t want to see her hurt because the two of you want to screw with her head.”

  For real? He saw Bells as a sister? He wasn’t going to go into all the ways that shit was sick. Who the hell fucks their sister? Yeah, he wasn’t dumb. Like a sister his ass.